Background & Purpose: Esophageal cancer is the 3rd common cause of GI cancer and the 6th common cause of cancer related deaths in the world. Northeastern of Iran (Caspian Littoral) has been recognized as the highest incidence rate region for esophageal cancer in the country. Although, different incidence rates have been reported from this region, Turkmens had the highest rate in these studies, but there is no report regarding the ethnicity within Turkmen groups. The present study is to explore the association between ethnic diversity in Turkmen population with esophageal cancer incidence in Iranian Turkmens (Golestan province).
Methods and materials: This is a cross sectional study in Turkmen patients with confirmed diagnosis of esophageal cancer between 2002 through 2003 at a referral clinic in Gonbad.
106 Turkmen patients, diagnosed with esophageal cancer by endoscopy and biopsy, were included. Demographic factors (sex and age), cancer histology (SCC and adenocarcinoma), tumor origin (upper 3rd, middle 3rd, and lower 3rd of esophagus), and patients’ contact numbers were retrieved and the patients were categorized into five different groups based on their ethnicity: Ahtahbai, Jafarbai, Googlan, others and unidentified ethnic group. Incidence rate was estimated based on the number of patients and population of each ethnic group. Descriptive statistics was performed and data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis Test for continuous variables and Chi-square Test for categorical variables.
Results: A total of 106 Turkmen patients with mean age of 64.22 ± 12.12 (61 male and 45 female) were included in this study. Frequency of each ethnic group was identified as: Ahtahbai(n=31, 29.2%), Googlan(n=30, 28.3%), Jafarbai (n=27,25.5%), others(n=7, 6.6%), and unidentified ethnic group (n=11,10.4%). The mean age and gender were not significantly different between these ethnic groups. Heterogeneity was found within Turkmen population, Ahthabai having the least and googlan the highest esophageal cancer incidence rate.
Conclusions: As esophageal cancer is very common in Turkmen population and with the high incidence rate in Googlan people, this ethnic group needs to be more targeted for the esophageal cancer-screening programme. Further population-based studies can better explore possible factors in different Turkmen ethnic groups.